Winter is just around the corner and if you are looking for alternative heating methods to your radiator or central air heating system, in floor heating is an option worth considering. This form of heating not only saves space but it is also an energy efficient way to keep your home warm.

Choose The Right System

There are two main types of underfloor heating – electric and water underfloor heating. Before you can install infloor heating in your home, you must decide which system is better suited for your home.

Electric floor Heating

This system is also called the dry system and features cables that are attached to open-weave mats, which are installed beneath your flooring. You can install this undertile heating system depending on the size of the room and how well insulated it is. The mats are spread out onto the floor, and each mat is linked together and to the main power supply. There are many options available, like large rolls of heating mats and loose-fit wiring that you can use for small corners and awkward spaces. You may also install this system under a carpet, but you will have to make sure that the carpet is thin, as it might absorb too much heat also ensure that the product is recommended by the manufacturer for under carpet installation.

Electric Underfloor Heating

Installing electric underfloor heating systems are generally cheaper to install than water heating systems and they cause fewer disruptions to the floor. However, they cost a lot more when compared to wet systems.

Hot Water in Floor Heating

Hot-water heating is known as a wet system and involves the use of a series of pipes, which are connected to your boiler room. These pipes circulate warm water under the floors of your home, resulting in warmer rooms. You can also connect the pipes to solar heating systems. Wet heating systems are generally associated with stone and tiled floors, but you may be able to use them for carpeted floors as well. Just make sure your carpet isn’t too thick otherwise heat won’t pass through effectively and also check manufacturer recommendation prior to installation.

Installing hot water infloor heating is more complicated and expensive than electric systems. The pipes need to be added onto a subfloor and then your tiles or stone floors are installed on top of them. The inconvenience will all be worth it, however, as the system uses water at lower temperatures than an ordinary radiator. The pipes use water at a temperature of around 40-65 degrees Celsius to give you a floor temperature of 23-32 degrees Celsius.

What Are The Benefits?

Under-floor heating is an extremely efficient way to warm up a room and it provides more pleasant warmth than a radiator, traditional fuel fires, or central heating system. The heat is gently emitted and there are no cold spots as most of the heat comes through the floor. This heating method will save space and give you a free wall that would have otherwise been reserved for a radiator.

In floor heating system can be added to any floor type including stone, ceramic, porcelain, laminate, and vinyl. Stone and ceramic floors work especially well with under floor heating, as they are better conductors of heat. When you install this system ensure that you have sufficient insulation or only your floor will get heated, and the room will remain relatively cold.

The Downside Of UFH

Though under-floor heating is a popular choice these days, it does have some downsides. The biggest is the cost of installation. The complicated installation process makes under-floor heating more suitable for when you’re building a new house or when you’re renovating your floor.

The system also takes a while to actually warm a room in very cold weather. You will have to keep an eye on the climate changes and switch on the system in advance to feel the effects properly. You can also combine in floor heating with a timer. It will also affect the way you furnish your home as you won’t be able to place certain pieces of furniture on top of the system. The same restrictions apply to some fittings.

floor heating systems can be a real lifesaver in harsh winters and will keep your feet warm and toasty, even if it’s freezing outside. Some experts claim that if your home has an energy efficient power source or water heater, and a competitive gas or electricity tariff, you could easily save up to 10-15% energy.